A suspected rapist has been accidentally released from prison in the UK and has fled the country just weeks before his scheduled trial.
The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was facing multiple allegations of rape, sexual assault, and violence against a woman. He denies all charges. Initially remanded in custody, he had been due to be tried in June but had requested a hearing in January to move the trial date forward to March.
During a pre-trial hearing in early February at Isleworth Crown Court, a court official mistakenly informed the prison that the defendant could be released on bail. The error reportedly stemmed from confusion over a second case in which he had already been granted bail.
Following his release, the man left the UK using a passport from his country of origin, while his British passport remains held by authorities. His barrister told the court that he is
unable, without further assistance from the state, to return to the country.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC called the error “extremely rare” and emphasized that it would be thoroughly investigated. He requested confirmation from the Foreign or Home Office to ensure the defendant could return if he chooses to engage with authorities.
The case comes amid a broader surge of accidental prisoner releases in the UK. Last year, gormless Justice Secretary David Lammy confirmed that a further 12 inmates were mistakenly freed over one month, with two still at large.
Combined with earlier errors, official figures show 262 accidental releases in the year to March 2025, more than double the 115 recorded the previous year. The mistaken release of high-profile offenders—including Hadush Kebatu, jailed for sexual assault in December 2025—has intensified calls for systemic reforms.
